I hafta go with the CBC, even though I'm opposed to the existence of a nanny-state broadcaster generally. (I mean, c'mon, does a democracy really need a state-run propaganda organ? Let's face it, the CBC had a ton to do with keeping an utterly corrupt Liberal government in power for 13 years in Ottawa. One of my buddies is a CBC anchor - and you wouldn't believe just how much influence the government of the day had on what "the mother corporation" peddled as news.)

Why the CBC?

Habit.

I've been watching HNIC on the CBC every Saturday night since the sixties. It's something we did back then as a family. It's something I still do with my kids - well, when their various mothers ain't denying me access.

Would you like to see the broadcast of HNIC on Saturday night on CBC or change to a privatly run channel.

Please take into your vote, Maple Leaves are on every Saturday night where ever they are, the Canucks, Oilers and other Canadian teams rarely get on Saturday night if they are in the States.

Take into account quality and knowledge of the broadcasters, PBP guys and Color commentry.

Sorry, I go with anything except the CBC. The very fact that a taxpayer-funded broadcaster who also lets their best sportsguy go over politics (Chris Cuthbert) while Greg Millen, Harry Neale and Bob Cole stay comfortably in their chairs thinks it can bid more than $1.4 BILLION of my money away has another thing coming.

Personally, I don't understand all the recent hate on the CBC (mind you, I haven't been able to watch it on a regular basis in almost 2 1/2 years). The CBC has a proud history of quality programming for people of all ages. True, they've made mistakes as all networks have, but they really are (or have been) a good source of Canadian programming.

Hockey Night in Canada on CBC is an institution. There isn't a better television station to broadcast hockey. While some of their one air talent (specifically Neale and Cole) may be... lacking.... the camera work and the actual broadcast is second to none. NONE. TSN and Sportsnet, while not horrible, are not the same. It's like watching hockey on an American station. The crew at the CBC have it down pat and there's no other network I'd rather watch a game on.

I find it rather suspect that the person leading this charge is someone who purports himself to be (but we know really isn't) a radio host on a CHUM owned radio station which is simulcast on a Bell Globemedia television station. No conflict of interest there. Maybe it's just me.

Kowch wrote:Personally, I don't understand all the recent hate on the CBC (mind you, I haven't been able to watch it on a regular basis in almost 2 1/2 years). The CBC has a proud history of quality programming for people of all ages. True, they've made mistakes as all networks have, but they really are (or have been) a good source of Canadian programming.

Hockey Night in Canada on CBC is an institution. There isn't a better television station to broadcast hockey. While some of their one air talent (specifically Neale and Cole) may be... lacking.... the camera work and the actual broadcast is second to none. NONE. TSN and Sportsnet, while not horrible, are not the same. It's like watching hockey on an American station. The crew at the CBC have it down pat and there's no other network I'd rather watch a game on.

I find it rather suspect that the person leading this charge is someone who purports himself to be (but we know really isn't) a radio host on a CHUM owned radio station which is simulcast on a Bell Globemedia television station. No conflict of interest there. Maybe it's just me.

Couldn't agree with you more that the camera work and broadcast (minus Millen/Cole in particular) is very good. Also agree that Hockey Night in Canada is an institution. It can remain an institution, with great camera work....on another channel. Another channel = a private broadcasting company as opposed to a taxpayer-funded one (CBC). What I cannot understand is why everyone defends the CBC when politics has led to so many poor personnel decisions. Tell me this:

1. Why was Chris Cuthbert let go? Why is Bob Cole still doing play-by-play?? If any other private broadcasting corporation was running HNIC, Cole would have been retired A LONG TIME AGO.

I've been watching HNIC on the CBC every Saturday night since the sixties. It's something we did back then as a family. It's something I still do with my kids - well, when their various mothers ain't denying me access.

Habit.

Like smoking cigars, drinking booze or hanging out with strippers.

Some habits are just too tough to break.

(And Cherry's still good for a laugh . . .)

I had to read this twice before asking myself if I wrote this myself (based on the personal anecdotes). I grew up in the '60s watching HNIC as a young lad in Alberta/BC. I know it's a habit, and I for one am all about celebrating Canadian tradition. Minus the fact you have kids and I don't, a lot of people nowadays don't remember what it was like to listen/watch an HNIC broadcast with Foster Hewitt (remember those days?). I remember Foster Hewitt doing the play-by-play in 1972 during the Summit Series when I was in my early '20s. All great. All terrific traditions.

Why can't the tradition move to another channel? Who said Don Cherry had to retire if HNIC moved to CTV? Who said Bob Cole had to (wait, forget I said that). All I am suggesting is that the CBC is a taxpayer-funded business. It should either privatize or go the PBS route.

DavidPratt_ wrote:
Couldn't agree with you more that the camera work and broadcast (minus Millen/Cole in particular) is very good. Also agree that Hockey Night in Canada is an institution. It can remain an institution, with great camera work....on another channel. Another channel = a private broadcasting company as opposed to a taxpayer-funded one (CBC). What I cannot understand is why everyone defends the CBC when politics has led to so many poor personnel decisions.

First off, if the NHL decides to award the contract to Bell Globemedia, Hockey Night in Canada wouldn't be going to CTV/TSN. HNIC is a trademark owned by CBC and I can't see the CBC going "Aw, shucks... you won.. here... take this brand we've been building for over 50 years". It ain't going to happen.

I still don't have a problem with the fact that the CBC is funded (in part) by tax dollars.

Tell me this:

1. Why was Chris Cuthbert let go? Why is Bob Cole still doing play-by-play?? If any other private broadcasting corporation was running HNIC, Cole would have been retired A LONG TIME AGO.

Because Bob Cole and Harry Neale have been the voice of the Toronto games forever, the people in Toronto (Canada's largest market.. in case you didn't know) identify with them. That's why. It's like why we want Jim Hughson and Tom Larschide calling the games out west. It's the reason Jim Robson is the voice of Canucks hockey and why a gondola is named after him and why he's a legend in Vancouver. Talk to a fan in another market and you'll get "Jim who?"

Which happens in every sector - private AND public. There's a reason the most senior refs get the Cup games... seniority still counts. I'd rather not see Kerry "The Hair" Fraser out there, but yet there he is... his coif barely moving when he's hit in the head with a puck. Explain that to me.